Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the most important aspects of any business website. If your website is not listed on the first page of search results, your number of visitors may drop. Being able to properly utilize SEO ranking factors can mean the difference between success and failure. However, there is more to SEO than just using keywords. Here are five SEO ranking factors more important than keywords.
1. Overall Website Content
The modern search engine looks at the overall content of your website. One of the best ways to improve your overall ranking in a search engine is to write good content. In that respect your website should contain material that explains what it is your company does and the services offered. Writing in an industry appropriate way that presents your brand in an explanatory fashion to your site's visitors is one of the most important SEO ranking factors.
2. Regular Content Updates
Your website's content needs to be updated regularly. Newer content receives a higher search engine ranking then older content. Regular updates also improve your overall rankings by positioning you as an industry authority. Search engines recognize regular updates by industry experts in their fields of work and rank them higher in search results because of this.
3. Site Design And Speed
Once a customer finds your site they have to be able to find their way around it. Make sure it is organized and there is a main navigational menu with links to subsections and related material. Menus should be clearly labeled and easily understood, examples include: Contact Us, About Our Company, and General Services Offered. Speed is also an aspect of design to keep in mind with the increasing prevalence of mobile Internet devices. If someone tries to access your content, they are likely to leave the page if it doesn't load in less than five seconds. Make sure your site’s images are not overly large, an effective caching system is in place, and the site's back end and upkeep is organized. Learn how to optimize your website here.
4. Security
Security is becoming an important aspect of SEO ranking factors. With identity theft and the hacking of government and business databases becoming more widely reported, it further increases the importance of security. In response to this your website has to be secure using the most modern methods. For your website be sure to use the latest security features such as SSL Encryption. This not only makes for a safer website but can also boost your ranking in search engine results.
5. Mobile Platforms
Finally, with the increasing usage of smartphones and tablets in the market, your website has to be optimized for mobile use. Much of modern SEO is creating user friendly and informative websites. Because of this, sites that are mobile ready are getting higher rankings in search engine results than those who are not. Remember you can have the best content available but it has to be accessible to all potential customers. If your website is not optimized for mobile devices now is the time to change that.
